Comments on: Goodbye to the horse-drawn carriage? http://ethicalweddings.com/blog/goodbye-to-the-horse-drawn-carriage ethical weddings blog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:42:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eco Gifts http://ethicalweddings.com/blog/goodbye-to-the-horse-drawn-carriage/comment-page-1#comment-63877 Eco Gifts Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:25:28 +0000 http://ethicalweddings.com/blog/?p=1699#comment-63877 I heard that PETA had "disposed" of adoptable dogs and cats because it cost too much to keep them. I know money doesn't grow on trees, but I also know that PETA can't just do that. I love animals and don't want to see them abused or anything either, but they really are masters of propaganda and I would agree with quite a lot of what michaleen says here. I heard that PETA had “disposed” of adoptable dogs and cats because it cost too much to keep them. I know money doesn’t grow on trees, but I also know that PETA can’t just do that. I love animals and don’t want to see them abused or anything either, but they really are masters of propaganda and I would agree with quite a lot of what michaleen says here.

]]> By: michaleen http://ethicalweddings.com/blog/goodbye-to-the-horse-drawn-carriage/comment-page-1#comment-63612 michaleen Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:03:24 +0000 http://ethicalweddings.com/blog/?p=1699#comment-63612 Hi - I had a carriage at my wedding - but more importantly, I have been the driver of carriages hired for weddings for almost 3 decades. The Central Park carriage horses do dozens of weddings every year, both in the city and surrounding area. They are beautiful & well-trained. I can tell you that here in NY, our carriage horses have a GREAT life. PETA's agenda is the eventual ban of all human/animal intercation, including owning pets. They are masters at propaganda, and their antics and lies should be ignored. Here are a few facts about our horses: The welfare of the horses is what the decent-minded, casual observer is truly interested in, and for good reason. The horse-drawn carriages are a New York City icon; they are ambassadors to our visitors, and the horses themselves are working animals that are entitled to proper care and good handling. Fortunately, our record reflects exactly that. Our horses lead exceedingly reasonable and content lives. They each receive a superior, formulated diet, occupy roomy box stalls, receive vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly. This amounts to food, shelter, and medical care - which many CHILDREN in this city do not have. Beyond these basics, they are loved by their owners/drivers; they receive affection, treats, and human interaction everyday. Every stable has a sprinkler system in case of fire, and every stable has 24/7 stablemen. We are overseen by 5 city agencies, and not one WEEK goes by (and sometimes, day) that our horses are not checked by the ASPCA or the Dept of Health. (Let’s see Child Protective Services match that record) The horses receive rotation turnout several times a year on farms in both Upstate NY and PA. When the time comes, we retire them to loving, forever homes; some of the owners retire them themselves on privately owned land. I personally have retired 3 horses, one of which is still living the life of Riley after being retired 6 years ago in South Jersey at a bank president’s home. Our safety record is STELLAR - 68 carriages operating approx 300 days a year /25 years = over 2 MILLION trips in traffic back and forth to the stables. (this does not even include all of the actual rides done!) We have had THREE equine fatalities due to traffic accidents in those 25 years (none were weddings, and we have never had an accident with a wedding carriage) NO equine pursuit can claim a similar ratio (500 horses died onracetracks just since the Kentucky Derby last year - hell, 100 HUMANS were hit by cars and killed in 2008 in NYC alone) Anybody hell-bent on putting carriages out of business should hop on down to the auction & buy a slaughter-bound horse and care for it for the rest of its natural life. That would actually be doing something to help the horses, not hurt them. Closing down a business where horses lead content & exceedingly reasonable existences will only ADD to the abandoned horse & overpopulation problem. A well-loved, cared-for horse with a job is a lucky horse. Hiring a horse and carriage for your wedding is not only environmentally sound and a beautiful addition to your day and to your memories & photos, but it helps keeps a tradition alive - and more importantly, helps to give horses a place in our modern world. Hi – I had a carriage at my wedding – but more importantly, I have been the driver of carriages hired for weddings for almost 3 decades. The Central Park carriage horses do dozens of weddings every year, both in the city and surrounding area. They are beautiful & well-trained.

I can tell you that here in NY, our carriage horses have a GREAT life. PETA’s agenda is the eventual ban of all human/animal intercation, including owning pets. They are masters at propaganda, and their antics and lies should be ignored. Here are a few facts about our horses:

The welfare of the horses is what the decent-minded, casual observer is truly interested in, and for good reason. The horse-drawn carriages are a New York City icon; they are ambassadors to our visitors, and the horses themselves are working animals that are entitled to proper care and good handling.

Fortunately, our record reflects exactly that. Our horses lead exceedingly reasonable and content lives. They each receive a superior, formulated diet, occupy roomy box stalls, receive vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly. This amounts to food, shelter, and medical care – which many CHILDREN in this city do not have.
Beyond these basics, they are loved by their owners/drivers; they receive affection, treats, and human interaction everyday.
Every stable has a sprinkler system in case of fire, and every stable has 24/7 stablemen. We are overseen by 5 city agencies, and not one WEEK goes by (and sometimes, day) that our horses are not checked by the ASPCA or the Dept of Health. (Let’s see Child Protective Services match that record)
The horses receive rotation turnout several times a year on farms in both Upstate NY and PA.

When the time comes, we retire them to loving, forever homes; some of the owners retire them themselves on privately owned land. I personally have retired 3 horses, one of which is still living the life of Riley after being retired 6 years ago in South Jersey at a bank president’s home.

Our safety record is STELLAR – 68 carriages operating approx 300 days a year /25 years = over 2 MILLION trips in traffic back and forth to the stables. (this does not even include all of the actual rides done!)

We have had THREE equine fatalities due to traffic accidents in those 25 years (none were weddings, and we have never had an accident with a wedding carriage)

NO equine pursuit can claim a similar ratio (500 horses died onracetracks just since the Kentucky Derby last year – hell, 100 HUMANS were hit by cars and killed in 2008 in NYC alone)

Anybody hell-bent on putting carriages out of business should hop on down to the auction & buy a slaughter-bound horse and care for it for the rest of its natural life. That would actually be doing something to help the horses, not hurt them.

Closing down a business where horses lead content & exceedingly reasonable existences will only ADD to the abandoned horse & overpopulation problem.

A well-loved, cared-for horse with a job is a lucky horse.

Hiring a horse and carriage for your wedding is not only environmentally sound and a beautiful addition to your day and to your memories & photos, but it helps keeps a tradition alive – and more importantly, helps to give horses a place in our modern world.

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